making a tundra more "hunt worthy"

[WRO]

As others have mentioned, a light lift and new rubber would certainly benefit your use case. I think the smallest lift you can get away with is usually the best option. I’m running Geolanders on my Tacoma and really like them for an AT tire.
What about lighting? Up in my neck of the woods, it gets dark fast come fall and is usually coupled with moisture. This makes for low vis conditions as the norm. Extra LED bars are great to see the critters before they step out in front of you on remote roads.

I’d disagree, I’d get the best shocks you can afford. A lot of lifts make your ride worse.

I totally agree on the lighting, I’m sold on my light bar.

High clearance bumpers are a must have along with a winch.

Also add sliders, I had them on my old truck and not this one and it’s super annoying, I have dented predator steps currently .

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[huntsd]

Thanks all for the feedback I’ll keep this thread updated with final outcome!

 

[Moccasin]

Most people would be shocked at what a good driver with proper tires, aired down to 10-20psi, and a set of recovery boards can do.

Any of the tires mentioned (Toyo, Falken, BFG) tailored to the terrain, plus some recovery boards (Maxtraxx or cheaper), and tire deflators, air compressor, some soft shackles, shovel, and a Kinetic rope (Yankum) are good starts. Add a jumper pack (Microstart etc). Drive it that way for a season of hunting trips and see what you actually need.

I like bumpers, sliders, suspensions, and winches too, but most models of Tundras have a payload of 1200-1500 lbs. Armor and winches eat weight with a quickness and vehicle performance decreases as they get really heavy. My point is, you chose a great truck, beware of the temptation to decrease its reliability/capability with a lot of heavy, expensive add-ons you didn’t really need.

Plus, the 5.7 is thirsty, you’ll need that money for gas.

 

[Jon C]

Leveling kit and the biggest Mickey Thompson at’s or Duratracs that fit. Truck doesn’t need much.

 

[huntabsarokee]

Lots of good info here. Looking to upgrade my 2021 Tundra with some Black Friday sales. 6112 vs Eichabch or spring for Fox for 90% daily driving and some off road here and there. Was going to buy the complete coil over set up some place around 1.5 inch in the front.

 

[Moccasin]

Softopper is 15% off and free shipping. FYI. Yankum also usually has their best sale right about now.

 

[Long Cut]

East Coast guy- I don’t camp or drive as far in remote areas like y’all do out West. The truck would 100% be setup with a decked system & camper shell if so.

That being said-

Blistein 6112 / soon to be 8110 combo
OTT Tune
Steel craft HD Bumper
Camlocker toolbox
All LED’s
Toyo RT Trails

Soon to Buy;
- Aftermarket skid plate
- Dirty Deeds Exhaust

 

[huntsd]

East Coast guy- I don’t camp or drive as far in remote areas like y’all do out West. The truck would 100% be setup with a decked system & camper shell if so.

That being said-

Blistein 6112 / soon to be 8110 combo
OTT Tune
Steel craft HD Bumper
Camlocker toolbox
All LED’s
Toyo RT Trails

Soon to Buy;
- Aftermarket skid plate
- Dirty Deeds Exhaust
View attachment 975412

What setting are the 6112s set at? Also what tire size?

 

[Long Cut]

What setting are the 6112s set at? Also what tire size?

2.5” and 295/70/18

 

[PA Hunter]

I have a 2018 Tundra put a set of KO3 s on for a 3000 mile round trip to Newfoundland where I knew I was going to be on a logging road from hell, I was absolutely impressed with them, even the highway driving was great. Zero complaints

 

[RockAndSage]

I have a 2018 Tundra put a set of KO3 s on for a 3000 mile round trip to Newfoundland where I knew I was going to be on a logging road from hell, I was absolutely impressed with them, even the highway driving was great. Zero complaints

I've got about 10k on a set of KO3s, and have been extremely happy with them. Jagged desert lava-rock 2-tracks, improved dirt roads, mud, highway snow - they're excellent, and have held up very well. Definitely set the baseline standard for me, and just don't need to think about what tires again, for any of the 4wd vehicles.

 

[K9kodi]

How to make a truck more huntable? Such a wide array of possible answers. Be careful how off road worthy you make your truck, cause the further you go the further someone else has to go to rescue.

When I think about making a truck like your tundra more reliable off-road and hunting a few things come to mind.

Do not lift it, at least a big life conventionally.
To go any higher then 2.5-3” you will need to cut the differential sub frame and install lowering brackets, this is not reversible and often times leads to much more issues if used anywhere but the parking lot for any serious off-roading. If money is not an option, solid axle swap front and rear from a 3/4” ford would make that suspension bombproof, but we’re talking thousands of dollars.

For suspension reliability I would run a bilstein, fox or ready lift front lift at 2.5” and possibly appropriate upper control arms to put the correct camber back into your wheel. For the rear, I would look at an add a leaf and a block the same height as the front. So if you did 2.5” front I would do at least 2.5” or 3” rear. This will keep factory rake vs a leveling kit. The rake (higher in back) is built into the trucks suspension. It allows you to carry weight in the bed and level out vs being nose high. When yiur nose high the braking weight transfers which hurts braking, steering suffers and being able to see obstacles suffers.
I would probably opt to add air bags for diff loads and weights and having the option to reduce or increase air.
I would get a front bumper and winch, or a front winch mount and a winch on a cradle to hook a winch up front or rear.

A winch bumper is not necessary to run a winch in a cradle.

Tires should be chosen by you bc you know your best travels. Highway time vs offroad time and what you see offroad. A good all terrain will probably work well.

Carry a full size spare, tire plug kit and an air compressor like an arb or any constant duty air compressor.

Always carry some nice tow straps of diff lengths for diff possible recovery situations and some kind of off road jack, hi lift or some sort of jack like that.

 

[Long Cut]

To add in general if I was planning on going places where self rescue would be 1. expensive, 2. time consuming and 3. potentially life threatening… I’d 100% have;

Winch
Spare tire(s)
Multiple ways to Life & Stabilize my vehicle
Reliable Air System
Battery Box
Come-A-Long
Multiple Straps in various lengths & binders
Satellite Phone

 

[StuckInTheEast]

I built this rig over last couple years to do what your planning tobdo with yours.
My advice if this is gonna be a dedicated hunting rig is either dont get carried away...or go big and do it right the first time.
If your the Minimalist, ultralight type and you hunt solo...keep it simple. Small lift, slightly oversized tires, RAS and better springs on the rear. Maybe decked system you can sleep ontop of with the cap. Hitch cargo carrier for big cooler or other miscellaneous stuff. Skid plates arent a bad idea for fuel tank and front skid as factory is bit weak but sliders, steel skids and fab bumper/winches get heavy fast.
If you go down the rabbit hole like I did you'll have an 8k+ lb Tundra before loading gear or dead animals...and well exceed factory payload rating.
If done properly and not driven like an idiot I dont think thats an issue with these trucks...others will disagree and swear you cant exceed rated payload under any circumstances or your truck or life will be ruined in some way...agree to disagree.
If you think a 5.7l tundra is thirsty in stock form, better prepare for drastically lower fuel economy once you start adding weight and larger tires...or towing. This rig was motivating about 13k lbs combined for 3300 miles to and from wyoming our last trip. We averaged about 7.5mpg.
Just the truck, my wife and I and three processed elk on exact same route last year was little over 11mpg round trip.
I love my tundras, most solid, reliable 1/2ton made from 2008-2021...but if i were doing this type of build again, for my use and purposes, it'll be a 1-ton SRW diesel for a base...because im always over prepared and take too much shit with me everywhere I go.
If you plan to keep it simple, I think that thing will surprise you with what it's capable of off road with minimal changes and upgrades though.
I will strongly suggest good springs like Dobinson and adding RAS to the rear though. Big difference in load carrying ride quality and handling. Rear springs are notorious tundra weak points.
Congrats on the new rig, hope it serves you well.

 

[huntsd]

She is all finished. 6112/5160, diff breather, (5) toyo atIII 285-70-18 including one full size spare with oem factory wheel. I picked up some traction boards, tow rope, tire repair kit and jumper. Should be good enough for 99% of what i want to do. Thanks all for the help!

 

[Moccasin]

Should be good enough for 99% of what i want to do.

View attachment 1004341

I’d say so. Nice truck.